Bridge.



I J. B." STRAUSS.

BRIDGE. i A'APPLIATION FILED DEO. 18, 1905.

Patented June 20, 1911.

J. B. STRAUSS.

maman.l AvPPLIOATIOH FILED DEU. SIS, 1905.

Patented June 2Q; 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET z. v

" 4 srirriis. PATENT onirica.

JOSEPH la. sTIaAUss, oF C IIIoaGo, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR To THE simenss nasoULn Anzo oo NomsrE namen COMPANY, OF'OHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

. To ailliwwm itlmai/ concern! Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STRAUS, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement'in Bridgesl, of which the ,followingis a specification.

My invention relates to bridges and particularly to bascule, andV has .for its ,objectto provide a new and improved bridge of this description. j

My invention "is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge embodying Ainyinvention; Fig. 2 is a lan viewof the device shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3

` is a side elevation with parts omitted showing a inodifiedconstruction; F ig. 4 is an end view of-Fig. 3. y ,I

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several gures. f

Referring now to the drawings, A is the i, movable lea-f, span or section extending across the part to-be bridged. -This movable sectionfmaybe made up in any desired manner, and is mounted upon a support` so that:

i it--may be lifted-to open the way lspanned bythe movable section. The movableisec- I' which the movable tion has a rearwardly projecting part which extends therear ofthe points where it is Supported.v As h'rein shown, the stationary supporting partsf-B1 are provided, one on each side ofthe roadway to which fare rivetedl the cross -girders B2 carry- CLfandA` C?, by mean's of which it is connected to the' Lendy of the movable section by a pivotal connection C". Thecounterweight C. is also connected by links C* with a stationary supporting device projecting above the roadway. -s herein shown, there are two such devices, D, one on each side of the roadway. It will thus -be seen that Vthe counterweight ordinarily"'stands up above the' roadway, and that it is pivotally'connected -tol the movable section A, andfthat l it is also pivotally' connected" to the 'upwardly projecting stationary supports' o`r towers D extending 'up above theroadway. These stationary supporting devices D are BRIDGE.

preferably'farranged so that the movable Specification of Letters Patent. vPatented June 20, 1911'. Application tiled December 1S, 1905` 4Serial No. 292,208. i n

section when lifted passes up 'betweenfthemiA The counterweight-at the same time passes downwardly and inwardly between them.

Some suitable apparatus is ,used to .Operate the movable section. As herein shown,

struts E which are connected at one end with .the movable section i'n any desired manner, as, for example, by being connected with the cross girder E1 'running transversely across the movable section and underneath it. These operating struts are terweight F is connected with each operating strut, said, counterweight being 'com nected by la' link F1 With'the' frame E, the link being pivoted thereto.- The compensating counterweight is mounted upon lthe this apparatus consists of the operating strut so that the strut can move with relation to it, and this compensating counter weight therefore varies in position with relation to the strut so as to balance, as 1t were, the upwardly. projecting end thereof as the strutis moved upwardly to lift the movable section. As the strut passes back its free end Ioverhangs the pinion while the length and weight of the -end attached-to the movable section decreases in respectto the pinion so that there would ultimately be an uplift l at. point F2. The counterweight, however, remains constant in relation to the pinion, and its mass is 'such that it overbalances the strut in its extreme position and thus keeps the eifect on both the movable section and pinion constant. When it is'desired to lift the movable section the motors are operated, and by means ofthe pinions and racks the struts are moved so as to pull the movable section upwardly. moving it above thetrunnion connections. When the bridge is completely lifted the movable section and counterweight take the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. '1. In this construction the connecting piece C* is'equal in length to the distance between the center of the trunnion B and the'pivot C3 and is l parallelto a line drawn through these" two points B' and the pivotal oint C" -0f, the

1l; isequal r andparallel to a similar` line drawn through' the point Cs'and point C. These lines with'j connection C* (see Fig.

ing -points C and Cs form the elementsl -of 'a parallel `motion so; that :1s-the movab1e section rises and moveslin toward thetrun-v nion the counterwe'ight descends andmovesi in .toward the trunnion in' eqi1al\r atio,and-

. thus the counterweightarm remains con"- stunt' andthecenter. ofj gravityremains in the center. of the .trunn ion 4 keeping.. the` bridge 1n' equilibrium throughout itsmove-4 ment.

I prefer to provide la-meansfor protecting .the 'end of the. bridge from I'extreme high secured by -providing a casing'G supportedV supporting parts so asv to form a unitary def' sign, as, for example, by having .its tacev flush with theedges thereof,` *Thefcounterf weight C is shown in Fig. 3 in'dottedl lines, -and is provided `with connectin pieces. C and C? pivoted to the end of th water, that is, to prevent ,the end ofthe. Abridge from dipping down'nto the water when the movable ,section' is lifted- As.

shown in Fig. l, for example, this result is upon the piers or bridge `supports and Iarranged vso that the end ofthebridge can' pass down into'it. T hiscasing may be made of any-deslredmaterial, s uch as 'concrete steel, or the like, and'is provided with an .automatic drip whichallowsall waterithat mal accumulate thereon on account of Vrainor the like toescape.' yIt will'be seen that case of high water 'this casingwillprovide the purpose 0 sign. -The similar to those illustrated in- Fig. 1, :except that' the supportingparts'D are provided -with some suitable ornamental .design,` H, and the counterweight' C is.lqcatdsoas to bridge the spacebetween-the'parts D and' `is ialso provided withsomej suitable. orna- '1' 'mental design H21 The counterwei ht C in this case'is preferably thinnerlan deeperl and is arranged so4 thatwhen the'brdgel isi down the ccmnterweight coperates' .with the e movable section, and also the connecting pieces C* at the,top c onnectingrfthe counterweight' with the'supporting' devices'D. The other .parts of the bridge are similar to .thosef` shown in Fig. 1, and I have not, therefore,

illustrated them in detail.

The floorv of the. malnfspan ends trunn'ions andthe floor, I, of the approach .itsbl feeders .Y v

" from the v.shore end' to' this point is'iixed;

vThe trunnions `B,which as before statedare' supported upon -thestationary cross gder s' f B '-V formthe pivotal points about which' the bridge turns. It will thus beseen that-iff.

vthe truss members of thegmain span extend-L ed back beyond the trunnions` they would en#I gage these cross girders Bas the bridge was t-rnedup, and thus preventV its further] movement. `I In orderl to prevent this the maxntruss 'members end at the trun n1onsv and the rearendof the main span is: provided twith truss membersl K, K1, K2, .Kf .I whichcompletely'surround the' cross lgird-'f' vers B?, that is the cro`ss support for.theseid main-span. The truss member. K3 projects downwardly and forwardly and the Vtruss y member K projects from the rear end ofthe bridge downwardly and is engaged' by the I truss member K3 and then' passes upwardly` to the maimspan. It will be s een that by thisconstruction the cross support for the main span orv movable section does not in.

any manner interfere with the lifting ofthe bridge. In constructingthe counterweiglitl prefer .to 4first 'construct' a box of suitable size and s hape o pen' so the interior isv accessible.

The box 'is'theniilled in with loose counter-j. -weightinaterial .of any suitable kind. I

mayfor example, :first place in the box 'large '-piecesfof; material andf then fill in the intcr- V-sticesgwitlismalle'r pieces or fine material until the. total weight ot' lbox and' material and associated parts provide the desired in shown the il-fiefvented from ytilting as. the brid e is' lifted and lowered, and vhencelthe 'spilling of the' counterweight material prevented. f When the bridge is closed the counterweight is high enough above the A roadwayv .to leave a passageway beneath for vehicles 'and' persons. When the bridge is opened' theg-counteriveight lowersto substantially' thelevel' of ghe roadway so as "to, act as Va'barrier acrossfhemoadwa'y.-

is associated with end supp'orted by.a com' pound lever .having armemberpivoted to'a ixed support, and a second .member pivoted to Vsaid first member'at one end and to the shore or' rarwardly'proje'cting end of thel brid eispan at its other end, and that one ofA .saidilever members is substantially parallel" to a linewhich passesthrough'the pivot of.

the bridge-span and the point of ivotal at- ',tachment ofthe' second le'ver mem r to said.

It willbe noticed that thefcount'erweight weigl1t., 'By'means'of thexonnections herev ist bridge span','andthe other lever member sub- .stantiallyfparallelitoj a. line through the said"` pivot1 .of t

pivotal attachment of said iir'st lever memv ebridg'e span and the point oi bertoits supporb t 'f "j'It 'will bei noted that' the counterwveightl isl separated a" considerable space from the that' is,4 fromthe mainy girders,

said counterweight being at a considerable.

height above them. It will further be noted that the counterweight'moves in a'curve between the'j clearance linel of the bridge and the-roadway as'\the bridge opens, 'that is, the path of the counterweight isl a curve ex- -tending from the clearance line of the bridge toward the roadway. The counterweiglit is and also to a movable part.

I claim .r -1. A bridge comprising a movable f.sec-` suspended from or attached to a fixed part,

tion, a counterweight therefor, a supportin device .for the counterweight extending up- ,wardlyabove the roadway, a pivotal con-A nection'from' said c ounterweight to the end r of said movable section back of the point about which itmoves and a second pivotal connection fro said counterweight to said supporting de ice.

2.- A bridge comprising a movable section, a counterweight therefor, a supporting device for the. counterwcight projecting up above the roadway, -a-connection extenda 25 downwardly from said' counterweight and pivoted to the end of the movable section, a second connection leading from the counterweight and'pivoted to the said supporting device 'abovev saidcounterweight.

3. A bridge' comprising a movable section g having a pivotal connection -with a supporting device, .the rear end of said section projecting-past saidl pivotal connect-ion,v said supporting device extending upwardly above the roadway, means for movingtlie said se'ction about 'said pivotal connection, a counterweight for saidY movable section and piv- V-otally connected to' the movable section at its extendedrear end and the upwardly extending part'of the said support.

LA bridge" comprising a movable section,

a counterweight therefor and a parallel link mechanism for said counterweight comprising at least two movable members connected together so as to be parallel to each A,other in all of their various positions.

5. A bridge comprising amor-'able section,

a counterweight therefor, two supports for lso the counterweight. one. on each side of the 'roadway and projecting thereabove, said counterw'eight'carried upon the movable section and extending across the roadway so as t'o form a portal over said roadway.

6. Abridge comprising amovableseetion, an overhead counterweight therefor, fixed supports on each side ot' the roadway, the

counterweight mounted upon -the n 1ovable.

movable section so as'to leave apassageway beneath it when the bridge is closed.

8. 'Abridge comprising a movable section, a fixed support 4extending `above the Vroady said movable sectiqnlbnd counterweightso as to openthe bridge, said lcounterweight acting as a barrier across ft the bridge is open.

9. A bridge comprising a movable section,

a stationary cross support therefor, the

e roadway when end of the movable section having truss,-l

members -which completely surround the` .said cross support.-

10. A bridge ycomprising a -movable'seci tion, two upright sipports therefor, one on way, a stationary cross l "each side gif-the roa fara.v

support connected with said upright sup-3. ports 'and upon which the movable section is mounted the main trusses of the movable rear end of the movable section having-truss free from the cross supportgwhen the movf.

able section is lifted.

l1. A bridge comprising a-movable section, an ornamental portal associated there- 'with, a portion of said portal movably held 'gin'position and a rigid connection between Tsaid movable portion of said portal and. said 'movable .section 'so that said portal acts as the counterweight for t-he movable section.

12. A bridge comprising a movable section mounted u on trunnions and having a rearwardly pro]ect1ng end, a counterwelght therefor located above. the roadway when the movable section .is in its operative position. and a connection between said counterweight and said rearkwardly projecting end of the movable section: r

` 13. A bridge comprlslnga portal located above the roadway leading to the bridge and extending tlier'ea'cross, a rigidil connection from said portal to said movable section w'hereby said portal acts as acounterjweight for said'movable section.

14. A bridge comprising a movable section, a box above the roadway and extending thcreacross and pivotally connected with tlie end of said section and containing counterweight material and means for preventlving the tiltingofsaid box as the' movable section is lifted so as to prevent the spillmg of the counterweight material.

" 15. A bridge comprising a movable section, a box connected with said movable section :rnd located above the roadway, and containing removable counterweight mateso.' section ending at the said cross support, the" 5 'UUM'Y Pfilt. arrangedto prevent sald vv from 'tilting when' 'the movable section is -1ited. i 1

"'16. Abridge comprising a movable sec- 5, tion, an ornamentaldeviceocated above the lroadway and a rigid connection between said ornamental deviceA and said movable section, said ornamental device acting as the countefrweight therefor. 17. A bridge comprising a movable section, stationary supports extending thereabove, a 'counterweight connected to said supports and to the movable section, the connection between the counterweiglit and v said supports beine pivoted both to the counterweight and t e supports.v

18. A bridge comprising a movable section, a stationary part, an operating mechanism comprising Aan operating strut connecte'd with the movable section and the sta- .tionary part, a motor mechanism operatively -connected with said operating strut so as to move it to lift the movable section,- and means for preventing the weight of said strut from unbalancing the movable section.

19. A bridge comprising a movable sec- -tion pivoted between its ends and havingl a' rearwardly projecting part projecting beyond the pivotal points, a support extend- '230 ing above the roadway, a counterweiglit mounted upon the rearwardly projecting end of the movable part 4and movably con.h

n'ected with said support.

. 20. A bridge comprising a movable sec tion, an operating strut connectedtherewith,

mounted thereon. I i

21. A bridge comprising 'a' movable section mounted-upon pivots and provided at each 'side with a truss, a' eounterweight above the roadwaypivot-ally connected to both trusses of said movable section so as to vary its distance from the pivots upon which said movable section is mounted' as said section is lifted and lowered.

22.- A bridge comprising a movable section, a counterweig'ht therefor above the clearance line of the bridge a: rigid connection between said counterweight and the bridge, said couuterweight held in position so that it moves in a curve extending from the clearance lineof the`bridge toward the roadway when the bridge is open.

. j f JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.- Witnesses;

HoMEn'L. KRAFT,

counterweight for `said strut movably 

